The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-02-05

III love than he had been when he had
proposed to her the first time. And
he thought that in spite of the girls
evident GOODNESS he had now good
prospects of success.
This time he said nothing to her
father. He watched his opportunity
when the old man was out Of the way,
and pleaded his cause earnestly, but
respectfully enough. He said nothing
about the strength of his passion he
did not refer in any way to his previous
offer. Nor did he allude to the bene-
fits ne had conferred upon the family.
He limited that he could offer her
home that would be more than COM
Portable, and that by accepting him she
would be acting the part of good dau3h-
ter ana securing her sisters future.
Kate heard him to the end, looking
him straight in the face all the time.
The German did not like that straight
forward gaze it looked as if the girl
had not forgotten the past, and meant
to reject him, but he bore it unflnch-
ingly and waited for his answer.
At length it came-she accepted him,
The German could hardly suppress a
cry of exultation as he sprang to his feet
and approached the beautiful girl who
had just promised to be his wife.
Hush, do sit down, Mr.. Bandt," she
said, rising and retrea;ins to the door, Il
hear papa coming"
MIR. Thompson did, i'll fact, come in at
that moment, and Kate escaped to her
bedroom, leaving her lover to tell the
news to her father.
Tue banker eft Bastenberg Terrace
that evening Il wnirl of excitement
and savage deli 5ht. HIS triumph was
complete. That lovely form, that peer
| less creature, Was TO be his own. AT
last, at last he had triumphed. For
this he had ruined her father, brought
the family 10 poverty, and appeared il
the character OF its benefactor. And
now the prize was within his grasp.
The Germans old friends hardly knew
| him for the next siA weeks. He rushed
into all sorts of extravAgances. He took
house in Mayfair, and furnished it
from top to bottom, uglged servants
| (every one of them natives of the Faith
erland), laid in stock of wine, and Or
dered the most magnificent wedding
breakfast that London confectioner
could provide.
Very little of this profusion found its
way to Battenberg Terrace. Time enough
for that, thought Herr Brandt, when the
girl was his wife; land little enough
luxury will she have even then" he said
to himself, ''if she doesn't see fit 10
mend her manueis." Kate was, indeed,
as cold to him as ever she had been, and
took no pains to conceal from her lover
the fact that she looked on herself as a
lamb led to the slaughter.
The fatal day arrived. All Mr.. Brandt's
friends and 'acquaintances in London,
and good many whose acquaintance
ship with him Was OF rather a slender
character, were asked to the wedding.
lie was anxious to show his beautiful
bride to the whole world. AS for Mr..
Thompson's relations, the banker did
not trouble himself to inquire about
them-the brides family were paupers.
1t did not matter whether any of them
were present Or not. On the eve of the
wedding day, however, magnificent
bridal dress, veil, and wreath, and a set
of pearls, arrived at Batteuberg Terrace,
sent by he bridegroom, that his bride
might appear in public suitably appar-
eled.
The morning came. The marriage
was to be at the fashionable church, St.
Bridget's, Westminster, at half past
eleven, aud bs eleven o'clock the church
began to ill with the bridegrcom's
guests. At twenty minutes past eleven
Mr.. Brandt himself arrived, respondent
in white waistcoat, light trousers, light
blue tie, and lavender gloves. He waited
impatiently. A curate was performing
hasty marriage ceremony at an altar in
side chapel (for st. Bridget's, as every
one knows, is highly ritualstic, and has
three altars), the bride being attired in
her travelling dress-a bonnet and large
waterproof cloak.
Mr.. Brandt was annoyed that another
wedding should have been fixed for the
same morning; however. he thought,
| theIt is time for them to lie cut of the
way before we begin. 1t was five min
utes to the appointed time, and as YET
there was no sign of the bride. The
| minutes passed; the modest little bridal
| party in the corner disappear ed into IL e
| vestry, the hal:hour chimes were struck
| on the clock i'll the tower overhead, and
yet the bride did not come.
Mr.. Brandt grew impatient, and so did
the crowd of well dressed people in the
pews.
Suddenly the vestry door opened and
the newly married par came cat; but in
stead of leaving by the side aisle they
came round to 90 down the centre aisle
of the church. They had nearly reached
the chancel when tie lady slipped off her
bonnet and cloak.
1t was she, X ate Thompson, his beau
tful bride, IL that very SAITH dress and
lace veil, married 80 another-to-to his
former clerk, Fred Winter!
1t was too much. H. sprang toward
was between them.
AS Brandt stood there, dumb with
rage, and mad with disappointment, Kate
pointed Der hand at him, and her voice
rang out clear in the silent chul CHI
You wilfully ruined my father and
brought us to poverty that you might be
able to subdue me to your wishes This
is my revenge"
SO saying she swept down the aisle on
her husbands arm, and disappeared from
Mr.. Brandt's sight for ever.
That night parcel was delivered at
his great empty house, containing the
wedding tinery, and the few presents
which the German had bestowed upon
his faithless bride.
The fact was that, by dint of patient